The impact of mining on the environment in Poland – myths and reality

Abstract Mining is always connected with interference in the environment, especially with the landscape, hydrosphere and atmosphere. The increasing requirements of environmental standards in Europe influence actions taken by the mining industry, which leads to minimization of impact during exploration, exploitation, processing and use of raw materials and waste. Moreover, mining companies often compensate the environment transformations via the processes of reclamation and adequately chosen directions of further adaptation. New post-mining areas are characterized, in many cases, by higher values than before the commencement of mining works. The problem is still the depletion of non-renewable raw materials. This can be minimized by rational resource management and also by the effective use, recovery, recycling and substituting of minerals. These actions will have an impact not only on the extension of the operation of existing plants, but will also diminish the areas needed for extraction of new deposits. In the paper, the transformations taking place in the mining industry in Poland, as well as myths and threats connected with its further development were pointed out. The actions by this industrial branch which lead to minimization of the pressure on the environment and the applied reclamation were also shown.